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Number of Natural Teeth #080801

Protocol Release Date

December 30, 2009

Protocol Name From Source

The Expert Review Panel has not reviewed this measure yet.

Description of Protocol

Questions ask for self-reports about the number of natural teeth an adult or child has in his or her mouth. In addition, one question asks a parent or caregiver to record information on the number of teeth in his or her infant’s mouth at 3–12 months of age.

Specific Instructions

This is not a count of unnatural teeth; therefore, do not count implants and remove all false teeth, such as partial dentures and full dentures (some dentures are attached to implants and cannot be removed and should not be counted). If a bridge is present, count only the teeth remaining on top of which the bridge sits. For example, a three-unit bridge usually has two teeth or two abutments (one on each side) that should be included in the count and one tooth (in the middle) is usually missing.

Stand in front of a mirror and count the teeth in your upper jaw first. To do this, start with the last tooth on the upper right and continue counting around to the last tooth on the upper left. Immediately drop down to your lower jaw and resume counting with the last tooth on the bottom left, counting around to the last tooth on the bottom right; record this number. Note: This measure should only be used if the Dental Caries measure is not chosen. If the Dental Caries measure is chosen, this measure is redundant.

Protocol

Adults:

1. How many natural teeth do you have?

1

[ ]

None

2

[ ]

1-10

3

[ ]

11-16

4

[ ]

17-24

5

[ ]

25-32

Children:

2. How many natural teeth does your child have?

1

[ ]

None

2

[ ]

1-10

3

[ ]

11-16

4

[ ]

17-24

5

[ ]

25-32

Infant:

3. How many teeth does your baby have now? (Write in 0 if none.)

____________ NUMBER OF TEETH

The Working Group recommends that researchers also ask for the specific number of teeth when asking this question of children and adults.

When it is not possible to do a clinical examination by a dental health professional, self-report or parental report for a child about the number of teeth will provide a proxy measure of oral health status.

Participants ≥18 years of age. May also be asked of children via a proxy. For infants, parents who have given birth to at least one healthy, full-term or near-term infant weighing at least 5 pounds at birth, between 3 to 12 months of age may respond.